Volcanic Ash

I have to admit I have a bit of a temper. I get ticked & I can't hold it in. I can't manage to behave myself. So without further ado, meet Volcanic Ash.

She's nasty. She's bitingly sarcastic and demeaning. You'll know when she's rearing her ugly head by a series of eye rolls, head shaking, and "are you an absolute idiot?" expressions.

I went to Wal-Mart to print some digital pictures. I took my poor mom who had never used the print kiosks before. I told her it would be quick, easy, and cheap. LIE.

The machines were super slow, the printing took almost a half hour for my 11 pics. The worst was when we were dashing out the door, mutually frustrated and late for appointments, and I realized the price tag on my envelope said $40! For 11 pictures! wHaT?!

I went back the next day to tell them they made a mistake. Imagine how ugly it got when they said it was not a mistake. When I get mad I tend to use very intelligent comments like "Are you freaking kidding me?" and "You've got to be crazy" and "This is SO NOT OKAY." Also, I know it really pleases the person I'm talking to if I talk really slowly and forcefully in hopes I can pound my message into their dense brain.

In the end they did a price correction that still left me fuming and with a deficit in my budget. But Volcanic Ash doesn't cool down easily. To make myself better I won't drop the issue until I get at least $10 more refunded, if not a complete refund for my pain and suffering. Also, I'm telling everyone within my circle of influence to NEVER use the Wal-Mart photo center. EVER. The UPS Store would have charged under $7 total for the same prints. Wal-Mart did not have the price anywhere for 5X7 enlargements and they feel fine charging me for the 8X10 price.

Silly me for assuming the inch increase would still be a reasonable price. I guess they think 160 times the price is reasonable.

Wise Advice

I had a clear piggy bank and some coins out for Mason to play with. It seemed like a good small motor skill activity to try to fit the coins in the little slot and then get them out of the bottom. Mason was playing on the floor and Jason went and sat with him. Quietly I heard Jason, our dear thrifty Jason, say, "That's right Mace, put all your money in there. And then go find all the money you can and keep putting it in there and save it the rest of your life."


Here's a picture of Mason playing with Mommy's wallet back in May.

Catch up on Words of the week

"Next we have Jonny. He loves his pets. He has three cats, Muffin, Swishy, and Princess. What? What? Oh. Oh Dear. Swishy is....no longer with us." -Lady introducing kids at Jackson's baptism

"Ryan woke up not feeling good. It might have been the Toaster Strudel I fed him". (Me to Kristi) "No, it was all the candy."-Nephew Ryan

"Ashley! Come quick! There's something wrong with your rocks."-Nephew Casey after Nate parked his jeep up on the boulders out front

"Seven Foods your Kids should Eat: Avocados and good Fats, Grains and Oats, Beans and Lentils, Fish, Alcohol...."-iVillage article. I think the link was wrong. Maybe not...

Growing Pains

I was just updating Mason's blog, and posting pictures of him on Halloween. I just keep looking at the pictures and I can't believe how quickly he changes. This time last year he couldn't even stand up. Everyone told me how fast he'd grow, but I'm really noticing it. "Exner" is a word my friend uses to describe that "excited/nervous" feeling. I am excited for all the new things he can do. I love witnessing his growth and learning. I'm nervous that I'm not doing a good enough job.

I also get nervous when we are apart. Before the summer I could leave him with family members and it wasn't a big deal. During the summer it was just us. My friend Kyndall watched him for an hour once so I could go to a lecture, and Sarah came over one night when he was asleep so we could go downstairs to a restaurant. That is the total amount of "babysitting" experience.

Today my brother Nate had Mason for THREE whole hours. I tried to enjoy the break and get errands done, but I couldn't relax. I felt like puking most of the time. I KNOW it is good for Mason, I KNOW it is good for me, but I still feel anxious. In two Sundays Mason will be old enough to stay in nursery by himself during our church meetings. I've gone with him to nursery a few times because he screams when we sit down for Sunday School. I KNOW he'll do fine. It's me I'm worried about.

I didn't think I'd be like this.